Durban – KwaZulu-Natal has been hit by another tornado, the provincial department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs announced on Saturday. Video footage of the aftermath of the tornardo shows several roofless houses and destroyed trees.
The department has dispatched disaster management teams to the town of Utrecht where a tornado hit the area at 7pm on Friday night.
The department said the Watervaal Correctional Service facility was damaged severely, with up to 20 staff houses left in ruins.
Cogta MEC Sipho Hlomuka said disaster management teams had been deployed.
South African Weather Service confirms that a tornado occured in the Utrecht area in KwaZulu-Natal https://t.co/SzWdet8wZv #ArriveAlive #Tornado @SAWeatherServic @EMERGCONTROL pic.twitter.com/uHqB0bhMuY
— Arrive Alive (@_ArriveAlive) November 23, 2019
“Our disaster management teams are on the ground providing relevant support to the affected families. This incident comes at a time when the province is mourning the loss of 23 lives due to weather-related incidents since October, this includes the tornado that struck New Hanover, in the Midlands last week Tuesday,” he said.
Bad weather was expected to continue in the province as the SA Weather Services had issued a warning for severe thunderstorms for a number of areas around th province, with strong chances of hail, wind and heavy rain in the uThukela, uMzinyathi, uMgungundlovu, Amajuba, iLembe, King Cetshwayo Zululand and uMkhanyakude districts.
“We are urging residents to be cautious, especially around low lying areas or when crossing bridges. Before making any long journey residents are urged to first check the weather forecast as heavy rains pose a serious risk on our roads,” said Hlomuka.
South African Weather Service confirms that a tornado occured in the Utrecht area in KwaZulu-Natal https://t.co/SzWdet8wZv #ArriveAlive #Tornado @SAWeatherServic pic.twitter.com/dTpAfy7xaX
— Arrive Alive (@_ArriveAlive) November 23, 2019
